United States Auto Club

The United States Auto Club (USAC) is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500. Today, USAC serves as the sanctioning body for a number of racing series, including the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Cars, National Midgets, Speed2 Midget Series, .25 Midget Series, Stadium Super Trucks, TORC: The Off-Road Championship, and Pirelli World Challenge.

United States Auto Club
SportAuto racing
JurisdictionUnited States
AbbreviationUSAC
Founded1955[1]
HeadquartersSpeedway, Indiana
PresidentKevin Miller
ChairmanJeff Stoops
Official website
www.usacracing.com

History
USAC headquarters in Speedway, Indiana. The building is located on 16th Street, less than a block from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (track is visible behind).
USAC trailer at a TORC event

When the American Automobile Association (AAA) withdrew from auto racing after the 1955 season, citing the Le Mans disaster and the death of Bill Vukovich at Indianapolis as contributing factors,[2] both the SCCA and NASCAR were mentioned as its potential successor.[2][3] Ultimately, USAC was formed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman.[4] It became the arbiter of rules, car design, and other matters for what it termed championship auto racing, the highest level of USAC racing. For a while there was a separate series of specifications for championship cars designed to be run on dirt, rather than paved, tracks.

USAC's long history as an open-wheel racing sanctioning body continues today with the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Car Series, National Midget Series, Ignite Ethanol Fuel Series, Quarter Midgets, and TORC Series. NASCAR drivers including Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Kasey Kahne honed their skills and captured championships while competing in various USAC series.

Triple crown

The "triple crown" is earned in USAC racing when a driver claims all three national championships (silver crown, sprint car, and midget car). Only two drivers, Tony Stewart (1995) and J. J. Yeley (2003), have achieved the triple crown in a single season. Five other drivers, Pancho Carter (1972–78), Dave Darland (1997–2001), Jerry Coons Jr. (2006–08), Tracy Hines (2000, 2002, 2015), and Chris Windom (2016, 2017, 2020) have claimed each of the three championships at least once in their careers. In 2012 Mike Curb and Cary Agajanian became the only car owners to win the triple crown by winning all three championships in the same year.

National championship

USAC had awarded a national championship until A. J. Foyt won his seventh title in 1979.[5] It has announced that it will begin awarding a national championship starting in 2010.[5] A driver's finishes in their 25 best races are counted toward the championship and the 2010 winner received $40,000.[5] Points are accumulated in the three national series: sprints, midgets, and silver crown.[5] Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Indiana claimed the inaugural championship, topping runner-up Levi Jones by 14 points.

As of 2013 it has been known as the Mike Curb "Super License" National Championship Award.

USAC national drivers champions

1978 plane crash

On April 23, 1978, returning from a race at the Trenton Speedway in New Jersey, eight USAC officials, plus the pilot, were killed when their 10-seat Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed during a thunderstorm 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis.[6][7]

Killed were:[8]

  • Ray Marquette, USAC's vice-president of public affairs and a former sportswriter for The Indianapolis Star
  • Frank Delroy, chairman of USAC technical committee
  • Shim Malone, starter for USAC races and head of its midget racer division
  • Judy Phillips, graphic artist and publication director of USAC's newsletter
  • Stan Worley, chief registrar
  • Ross Teeguarden, assistant technical chairman
  • Don Peabody, head of the sprint division
  • Dr. Bruce White, assistant staff doctor
  • Don Mullendore, owner and pilot of the plane.

The effect on USAC, and for open-wheel racing in the United States, was devastating, especially since it closely followed the death of Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman.

End of championship car sanctioning

The plane crash came at a time when Indy car owners and drivers were demanding changes from USAC. Aside from the Indianapolis 500, USAC events were not well attended, and the owners felt that USAC poorly negotiated television rights. The owners also wanted increases in payouts, especially at Indy.[9] Though some think the plane crash was used as an opportunistic way to force change in the sport, it was merely an unfortunate coincidence. The seed of dissent had been growing for several years before the accident,[10] and claims the crash was an immediate cause for the 1979 CART/USAC "split" are considered for the most part unfounded.

Also unpopular were the attempts of USAC to keep the aging Offenhauser engine competitive with the newer, and much more expensive, Cosworth DFX engine using boost-limiting "pop off valves" and limiting the amount of fuel that could be used.[11]

Finally, most car owners banded together to form Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) in 1978, with the first race to be run in 1979. USAC tried unsuccessfully to ban all CART owners from the 1979 Indianapolis 500, finally losing in court before the race began. Both the USAC and CART ran race schedules in 1979.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway president John Cooper was instrumental in forming a joint body of CART and USAC with the creation of the Championship Racing League in March 1980. However, in mid 1980, Cooper forced USAC to renounce their agreement with the CRL if they wanted to keep officiating the Indy 500.[12] After USAC's attempt at a 500-mile races at Pocono Raceway – which was boycotted by the CART teams, forcing USAC to fill the field with silver crown cars – USAC and CART eventually settled into a relatively peaceful co-existence, with USAC continuing to sanction the Indianapolis 500, and CART including the race in its schedule. USAC continued to sanction the Indy 500 until 1997, when the Indy Racing League (itself product of the second American open-wheel split in 1996) terminated the sanctioning agreement following two consecutive scoring errors that year; subsequent Indy 500s were sanctioned by the IRL, now the IndyCar Series.

Active series

USAC Silver Crown Series
USAC Silver Crown Championship
CategorySprint car racing
Country United States
Inaugural season1971
Drivers' champion Kody Swanson
Official websiteUSAC Silver Crown Series
Current season
1988 Steve Butler Silver Crown car
Tony Stewart's 1995 Silver Crown Championship car, part of his "Triple Crown" accomplishment.

Beginning in 1971, all dirt races were split from the National Championship. From 1971 to 1980, the series was named "National Dirt Car Championship", then renamed "Silver Crown Series" in 1981.

Champions
Season Car No. Driver Team
National Dirt Car Championship
1971 4 George Snider Wilke
1972 3 A. J. Foyt Foyt
1973 2 Al Unser Miletich/Jones
1974 2 Mario Andretti Miletich/Jones
1975 55 Jimmy Caruthers Middleton
1976 29 Billy Cassella Seymour
1977 4 Larry Rice LeFevre
1978 21 Pancho Carter Capels
1979 30 Bobby Olivero Kurtz
1980 12 Gary Bettenhausen Delrose/Holt
Silver Crown Series
1981 55 Larry Rice Knepper
1982 39 Ken Schrader Fortune
1983 9 Gary Bettenhausen Delrose/Holt
1984 58 Dave Blaney DePalma
1985 39 Rick Hood Fortune
1986 63 Jack Hewitt Hampshire
1987 63 Jack Hewitt Hampshire
1988 10 Steve Butler Jarrett
1989 30 Chuck Gurney Kurtz
1990 54 Jimmy Sills Consani
1991 35 Jeff Gordon Ede
1992 10 Steve Butler Jarrett
1993 69 Mike Bliss McClure
1994 75 Jimmy Sills Stanton
1995 25 Tony Stewart Boles
1996 75 Jimmy Sills Stanton
1997 56 Dave Darland Foxco
1998 9 Jason Leffler Goetz
1999 14 Ryan Newman Ede
2000 37 Tracy Hines Riggs
2001 10 Paul White Cook
2002 9 J. J. Yeley Stewart/East
2003 9 J. J. Yeley Stewart/East
2004 9 Dave Steele Stewart/East
2005 9 Dave Steele Stewart/East
2006 29 Bud Kaeding BK/Leffler
2007 29 Bud Kaeding BK
2008 27 Jerry Coons Jr RW
2009 29 Bud Kaeding BK
2010 10 Levi Jones Stewart/Curb-Agajanian
2011 10 Levi Jones Stewart/Curb-Agajanian
2012 22 Bobby East Stewart/Curb-Agajanian
2013 10 Bobby East Stewart/Curb-Agajanian
2014 63 Kody Swanson[13] DePalma Motorsports
2015 63 Kody Swanson DePalma Motorsports
2016 98 Chris Windom[14] Fred Gormly/RPM
2017 63 Kody Swanson DePalma Motorsports
2018 63 Kody Swanson DePalma Motorsports
2019 20 Kody Swanson Nolen Racing
2020 91 Justin Grant[15] Hemelgarn Racing
Race winners

* As of the end of the 2020 season

DriverWins
Kody Swanson30
Jack Hewitt23
Brian Tyler17
Dave Steele16
J.J. Yeley15
Dave Darland14
Chuck Gurney14
Jimmy Sills12
Bobby East11
Gary Bettenhausen10
Mike Bliss10
Bobby Santos III10

USAC National Sprint Car Championship
USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship
CategorySprint car racing
Country United States
Inaugural season1956
Tire suppliersHoosier Racing Tire
Drivers' champion Chris Windom
Teams' championBaldwin Brothers Racing
Official websiteAMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series
Current season
2008 Tracy Hines, pavement sprint car (without wing).
Tony Stewart's 1995 Sprint Car Championship car, part of his "Triple Crown" accomplishment.

From 1956–1960, USAC's National Sprint Car Championship was divided into two regional divisions in the Midwest and the East.

Champions
Season Car No. Driver Team
1956 9 Midwest: Pat O'Connor Estes
1 East: Tommy Hinnershitz
1957 21 Midwest: Elmer George Hulman
East: Bill Randall
1958 25 Midwest: Eddie Sachs Cheesman
3 East: Johnny Thomson Traylor
1959 4 Midwest: Don Branson Estes
4 East: Tommy Hinnershitz Pfrommer
1960 51 Midwest: Parnelli Jones Fike
2 East: A. J. Foyt Watson
1961 1 Parnelli Jones Fike
1962 1 Parnelli Jones Fike
1963 2 Roger McCluskey Homeyer
1964 3 Don Branson Phillips
1965 9 Johnny Rutherford Meskowski
1966 51 Roger McCluskey Anderson
1967 92 Greg Weld Leffler
1968 4, 27 Larry Dickson Smith, Stapp
1969 2 Gary Bettenhausen Davis
1970 2 George Snider Lay
1971 2 Gary Bettenhausen Davis
1972 4 Sammy Sessions Amerling
1973 2 Rollie Beale Kilman
1974 6 Pancho Carter Stapp
1975 80 Larry Dickson Ensign
1976 24 Pancho Carter Stap
1977 56 Sheldon Kinser Hammond
1978 43 Tom Bigelow Armstrong
1979 43 Greg Leffler Armstrong
1980 2 Rich Vogler Seibert
1981 6 Sheldon Kinser Leyba
1982 1 Sheldon Kinser Leyba
1983 39 Ken Schrader Delrose/Holt
1984 39 Rick Hood Fortune
1985 39 Rick Hood Fortune
1986 6 Steve Butler Stoops
1987 1 Steve Butler Stoops
1988 1 Steve Butler Stoops
1989 69 Rich Vogler Hoffman
1990 69 Steve Butler Hoffman
1991 7 Robbie Stanley Stanley
1992 1 Robbie Stanley Stanley
1993 69 Robbie Stanley Hoffman
1994 22k Doug Kalitta Kalitta
1995 20 Tony Stewart Niebel
1996 4c Brian Tyler Contos
1997 4c Brian Tyler Contos
1998 2, 12 Tony Elliott Walker/Vance, Conroy
1999 69 Dave Darland Hoffman
2000 66 Tony Elliott Walker
2001 76 J. J. Yeley GT
2002 69 Tracy Hines Hoffman
2003 20 J. J. Yeley Stewart
2004 20 Jay Drake Stewart
2005 2B Levi Jones Benic
2006 20 Josh Wise Stewart
2007 20 Levi Jones Stewart
2008 69 Jerry Coons Jr Hoffman
2009 20 Levi Jones Stewart
2010 20 Levi Jones Stewart
2011 20 Levi Jones Stewart
2012 7 Bryan Clauson CTR-BCI-Curb-Agajanian
2013 20 Bryan Clauson Stewart/Curb-Agajanian
2014 69 Brady Bacon[16] Hoffman
2015 12 Robert Ballou Ballou Motorsports
2016 69 Brady Bacon[17] Hoffman
2017 5 Chris Windom Baldwin Brothers
2018 7 Tyler Courtney Clauson Marshall Motorsports
2019 19AZ C.J. Leary Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports
2020 69 Brady Bacon[18] Hoffman
Race winners

* As of the end of the 2020 season

DriverWins
Dave Darland62
Tom Bigelow52
Tracy Hines47
Jack Hewitt46
Larry Dickson45
Pancho Carter42
Bryan Clauson41
Gary Bettenhausen40
Sheldon Kinser37
Jon Stanbrough35
Rich Vogler35
Brady Bacon35
Rollie Beale32
Robert Ballou29
Tyler Courtney29
Don Branson28
A.J. Foyt28
Levi Jones28
Chris Windom28
J.J. Yeley28

USAC National Midget Championship
USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Championship
CategoryMidget car racing
Country United States
Inaugural season1956
ConstructorsBeast · Breka · BOSS Chassis · Buzzard · CBI · DRC Chassis · Eagle · Elite · Felker · FSC · Hawk · Hyper Racing · King · Mal-1 · Spike Chassis · STS · Stealth · TCR · Triple X Race Co · Zero
Engine suppliersAutocraft · Chevrolet · Ed Pink · Esslinger · Fontana · Ford · Gaerte · GM Ecotec · Hawk · Honda · Mopar · Musser · Oldsmobile · Ostrich · Ott · Pontiac · Stanton · Toyota
Tire suppliersHoosier Racing Tire
Drivers' champion Tyler Courtney
Teams' championClauson-Marshall Racing
Makes' championSpike / Stanton
Official websiteUSAC P1 Insurance National Midgets
Current season
2014 USAC Midget champion Rico Abreu
Tony Stewart's 1995 Midget Car Championship car, part of his "Triple Crown" accomplishment.
Champions
Season Car No. Driver Team
1956 Shorty Templeman
1957 Shorty Templeman
1958 Shorty Templeman
1959 Gene Hartley
1960 Jimmy Davies
1961 Jimmy Davies
1962 Jimmy Davies
1963 Bob Wente
1964 Mel Kenyon
1965 Mike McGreevy
1966 1 Mike McGreevy
1967 1 Mel Kenyon Kenyon
1968 1 Mel Kenyon Kenyon
1969 3 Bob Tattersall Stroud
1970 5 Jimmy Caruthers Caruthers
1971 5 Danny Caruthers Caruthers
1972 81 Pancho Carter Rieder
1973 2 Larry Rice Shannon
1974 61 Mel Kenyon Kenyon
1975 5 Sleepy Tripp
1976 1 Sleepy Tripp
1977 43 Mel Kenyon Armstrong
1978 2 Rich Vogler Caruthers
1979 2 Steve Lotshaw Piascik
1980 69 Rich Vogler Lockard
1981 61 Mel Kenyon Kenyon
1982 5 Kevin Olson Carey
1983 4 Rich Vogler Streicher
1984 16 Tom Bigelow Sandy
1985 66 Mel Kenyon Burns
1986 2 Rich Vogler Byrd
1987 11 Kevin Olson Wilke
1988 1 Rich Vogler Byrd
1989 46 Russ Gamester Gamester
1990 4 Jeff Gordon Helmling
1991 8 Mike Streicher Streicher
1992 11 Stevie Reeves Wilke
1993 9 Stevie Reeves Lewis
1994 6 Tony Stewart Potter
1995 9 Tony Stewart Lewis
1996 91 Kenny Irwin Jr. Lewis
1997 71 Jason Leffler Willoughby
1998 9 Jason Leffler Lewis
1999 9 Jason Leffler Lewis
2000 91 Kasey Kahne Lewis
2001 9 Dave Darland Lewis
2002 9 Dave Darland Lewis
2003 9 J. J. Yeley Lewis
2004 9 Bobby East Lewis
2005 20 Josh Wise Stewart
2006 11 Jerry Coons Jr. Wilke
2007 11 Jerry Coons Jr. Wilke-Pak
2008 71 Cole Whitt Kunz
2009 17B Brad Kuhn RW
2010 39 Bryan Clauson Tucker/Kunz/BCI
2011 39 Bryan Clauson CTR-Curb-Agajanian
2012 3 Darren Hagen RFMS
2013 71 Christopher Bell Kunz/Curb-Agajanian
2014 97 Rico Abreu Kunz/Curb-Agajanian
2015 24 Tracy Hines[19] Parker Machinery
2016 67 Tanner Thorson[20] Kunz/Curb-Agajanian
2017 97 Spencer Bayston[21] Kunz/Curb-Agajanian
2018 67 Logan Seavey[22] Kunz/Curb-Agajanian
2019 7BC Tyler Courtney Clauson-Marshall Racing
2020 89 Chris Windom[23] Tucker/Boat Motorsports[24]
Race winners

* As of the end of the 2020 season

DriverWins
Mel Kenyon111
Rich Vogler95
Bob Wente78
Bob Tattersall63
Sleepy Tripp57
Jimmy Davies48
Bryan Clauson38
Tracy Hines35
Gene Hartley31
Chuck Rodee31
Dave Darland30
Mike McGreevy30
Johnny Parsons30
Gary Bettenhausen27
Tony Stewart27
Darren Hagen25
Parnelli Jones25
Dave Strickland25

USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
CategorySprint car racing
Country United States
Inaugural season2004
Tire suppliersHoosier Racing Tire
Drivers' champion Damion Gardner
Teams' championAlexander
Official websiteAMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
Current season

The USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Series debuted in 2004 utilizing the same cars & engines that race in USAC's AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship at dirt oval tracks across California and Arizona. The series also features combination races with the AMSOIL USAC Sprint Car National Championship.

Champions

Season Car No. Driver Team
2004 3 Rip Williams Jory
2005 50 Damion Gardner Chaffin
2006 38 Cory Kruseman Crossno
2007 4 Tony Jones Alexander
2008 50 Mike Spencer Chaffin
2009 50 Mike Spencer Chaffin
2010 50 Mike Spencer Chaffin
2011 50 Mike Spencer Chaffin
2012 50 Mike Spencer Chaffin
2013 4a Damion Gardner Alexander
2014 4 Damion Gardner Alexander
2015 4 Damion Gardner Alexander
2016 4 Damion Gardner Alexander
2017 4 Damion Gardner Alexander
2018 4 Damion Gardner Alexander
2019 4 Damion Gardner Alexander

[25]

USAC Western States Midget Series
Light Up The World Beverages presents the USAC Western States Midgets
CategoryMidget car racing
Country United States
Inaugural season1982
Tire suppliersHoosier Racing Tire
Official websiteUSAC Western States Midgets
Current season

USAC started the Western States Midgets in 1982 utilizing the same cars & engines that race in the USAC National Midgets. The series solely races on dirt ovals across California and Arizona but in past raced on pavement ovals as well. The series does run co-sanctioned races with USAC's National Midget Series (including the historic Turkey Night Grand Prix race) and the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets.

Champions

Season Car No. Driver Team
1982 Jeff Haywood
1983 Sleepy Tripp
1984 Tommy White
1985 Sleepy Tripp
1986 Robby Flock
1987 Sleepy Tripp
1988 Sleepy Tripp
1989 Robby Flock
1990 Sleepy Tripp
1991 Sleepy Tripp
1992 Sleepy Tripp
1993 Robby Flock
1994 Johnny Cofer
1995 Billy Boat
1996 Jay Drake
1997 Ricky Shelton
1998 Rick Hendrix
1999 Marc DeBeaumont
2000 Wally Pankratz
2001 Danny Ebberts
2002 Robby Flock
2003 Steve Paden
2004 Johnny Rodriguez
2005 Jerome Rodela
2006 Jerome Rodela
2007 87 Johnny Rodriguez Mitchell Motorsports
2008 40 Nic Faas Western Speed
2009 47 Garrett Hansen Bondio
2010 25 Alex Schutte Rodela
2011 21k Cory Kruseman Kruseman
2012 (Overall) 7 Shannon McQueen McQueen
2012 (Dirt) 15 David Prickett Neverlift
2012 (Pavement) 17n Chad Nichols Nichols
2013 (Overall) 68 Ronnie Gardner Six8
2013 (Dirt)
2013 (Pavement) 29 Chad Nichols Team 17/Eskesen
2014 (Overall) 68 Ronnie Gardner Six8
2014 (Dirt)
2014 (Pavement) 17 Chad Nichols Team17
2015 68 Ronnie Gardner Six8
2016 68 Ronnie Gardner Six8
2017 68 Ronnie Gardner Six8
2018 9D Michael Faccinto Sean Dodenhoff Motorsports
2019 4D Robert Dalby Ken Dalby
2020 season championship cancelled[26]

reference:[27]

USAC 360 Sprint Car Series

USAC sanctions several regional 360 c.i.d. non-wing sprint car series across the country. USAC's West Coast Sprint Car Series was launched in 2009 by Santa Maria Speedway promoter Chris Kearns, and joined forces with USAC in 2010. The West Coast series primarily races at tracks across California while also having special event races in Nevada. USAC's Southwest Sprint Car Series was launched in 1991 as the Arizona Sprint Car Racing Association. The series joined forces with USAC in 2012.[28] The Southwest series primarily races at tracks in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico while also having special event races in Arkansas, Kansas & Oklahoma.

USAC and URC Sprint Caf Series promoter Curt Michael joined forces to create the USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, with the first season beginning in 2018.[29]

Champions

USAC Speed2 Midget Series

USAC formed the Speed2 Midget Series (formerly known as the Ford Focus Midget Series, Ignite Midget Series and HPD Midget Series) in 2002 with several regional divisions running across the United States on both dirt & pavement oval tracks. With exception to the engine, the cars used are the same as National & Western States Midget cars. The powerplants currently used are 4-cylinder production-based engines with stock internal dimensions to save costs for competitors. The series started out as a spec engine class, originally with Ford supplying their Zetec engine from 2002-2012, and then HPD supplying their K24 engine starting in 2013.

National Championship

The Speed2 Midget Series National Champion has been determined in a variety of ways. The inaugural championship, 2005, was decided by a two-race series (one dirt, one pavement). Subsequent national champions were determined by a single "national championship race" held at various locations. This format was used until 2010. In 2011, a points system was instituted to determine the national champion. Counting only a drivers twelve best finishes, the system allowed drivers from multiple regions to compete under a common points structure for a season-long championship. The 2012 season did not award a national champion, however the respective regional champions were honored at USAC Night of Champions.

National Champions

  • 2005: Robbie Ray; Davenport, IA;
  • 2006: Michael Faccinto; Hanford, CA ; Scelzi #4x
  • 2007: James Robertson; Indianapolis, IN; Steele #1
  • 2008: Alex Bowman; Tucson, AZ; Bowman #55
  • 2009: Kyle Hamilton; Danville, IN; Steele #1
  • 2010: Nick Drake; Mooresville, NC; Cline #55
  • 2011: Nick Drake; Mooresville, NC; Cline #55

Regional Champions

Season Series Driver
2002 (No Regions)
2003 California (North) Josh Lakatos
California (South) Todd Hunsaker
Indiana Robbie Ray
2004 California (North) Bradley Galedrige
California (South) Chris Rahe
Carolina / Virginia Chase Scott
Midwest Tate Martz
Speedrome Brice Kenyon
2005 California (Dirt) Chase Barber
California (Pavement) Alex Harris
Carolina / Virginia Chase Scott
Midwest Tate Martz
Northeast Michael Sboro
Oklahoma Jasiel Randolph
Speedrome Jamie Williams
2006 California (Dirt) Bobby Michnowicz
California (Pavement) Tim Skoglund
Carolina / Virginia Chase Scott
Florida Ryan Smith
Indiana James Robertson
Midwest (Dirt) Jordan Noblitt
Midwest (Pavement) Tate Martz
Northeast Ryan Smith
2007 California (Dirt) Nic Faas
California (Pavement) Tim Skoglund
Carolina Tanner Swanson
Indiana Chett Gehrke
Midwest James Robertson
Northeast Jeff Abold
UMARRA Mario Clouser
Utah Tim Savage
2008 California (Dirt) Alex Bowman
California (Junior) Charlie Butcher
California (Pavement) Ian Miille
Carolinas Bradley Riethmeyer
Indiana Kyle Hamilton
Midwest
Utah Kipp Posey
UMARA Branden Allen
2009 California (Dirt) Brody Roa
California (Pavement) Nik Romano
California (Young Guns) Kyle Edwards
Carolina Jeremy Frankoski
Midwest Joe Liguori
UMARA
Utah Kipp Posey
2010 Eastern Scott Hunter
Eastern (Young Guns) Jesse Little
Midwest Joe Liguori
Midwest (Young Guns) Cooper Clouse
Western Nick Carlson
Western (Young Guns) Jarid Blondel
Utah Michael Daniels
2011 DMA Joe Krawiec
Eastern Nick Drake
Eastern (Dirt) Scott Hunter
Eastern (Pavement) Jarett Andretti
Eastern (Young Guns) Jared Irvan
Midwest Ross Rankine
Midwest (Young Guns) Sam McGhee
Utah Jim Waters
Western Brodie Kostecki
Western (Young Guns)
2012 DMA Kevin Chaffee
Eastern Jared Irvan
Midwest (Dirt) Ross Rankine
Midwest (Pavement)
Northwest Jared Peterson
Western (Dirt) Cory Elliott
Western (Pavement) Bryant Dawson
Western North Garret Peterson
2013 DMA Joe Krawiec
Eastern Chris Lamb
Midwest (Dirt) Gage Walker
Midwest (Pavement) Cooper Clouse
Washington Chase Goetz
Western Jarid Blondel
Western (Dirt) Cory Elliott
Western (Pavement) Bryant Dawson
2014 DMA Adam Pierson
Eastern Scott Hunter
Midwest (Dirt) Austin Nemire
Midwest (Pavement)
Washington Chase Goetz
Western Shawn Buckley
Western (Dirt) Ashley Hazelton
2015 DMA Adam Pierson
Eastern Chris Lamb
Midwest Alex Watson
Western Cody Jessop
Western (Dirt) Shawn Buckley
Western (Pavement) Dylan Nobile
Western (Restricted) Jesse Love
2016 DMA Adam Pierson
Eastern Chris Lamb
IMRA Jeff Mallonee
Midwest Thunder Gage Etgen
Western Jesse Love
Western (Dirt)
Western (Pavement) Toni Breidinger
Western (Restricted) Blake Brannon
2017 DMA Dean Christensen
Eastern Jessica Bean
Gulf Coast Kyle Jones
IMRA Dillon Morley
Midwest Thunder Aaron Leffel
Western (Overall) Jesse Love
Western (Dirt)
Western (Pavement)
2018 DMA Jason Goff
Eastern Jessica Bean
IMRA Andy Baugh
Midwest Thunder Aaron Leffel
Western (Overall) Adam Lemke
Western (Dirt) Tyler Slay
Western (Pavement) Adam Lemke
2019 DMA Will Hull
Eastern Jessica Bean
IMRA Andy Baugh
Midwest Thunder Aaron Leffel
2020 DMA Seth Carlson
Eastern Jessica Bean
IMRA Bryan Stanfill
Midwest Thunder Jacob Denney
Radical Focus Joseph Holiday

USAC Lightning Sprint National Championship

USAC started the Speedway Motors Lightning Sprint National Championship in 2017 for local tracks running Lightning Sprint cars. The points format counts the 12 best races at USAC sanctioned tracks.[32]

GT World Challenge America
Main article: GT World Challenge America

Pirelli World Challenge, was started in 1990 and switched to USAC sanctioning in 2017.[33] The championship currently races on road and street courses across the United States and Canada with seven different classes for GT cars & Touring cars. Founded by WC Vision, the series is presently owned by SRO Group.

Stadium Super Trucks
Main article: Stadium Super Trucks

The Stadium Super Trucks series was founded in 2013 by former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon. It is sanctioned by USAC,[34] though Gordon and sponsorship marketing company The Elevation Group co-own the series.[35]

TORC: The Off-Road Championship presented by AMSOIL
Main article: TORC: The Off-Road Championship
Scott Taylor's Crandon winning Pro 2 truck

TORC: The Off-Road Championship was founded in 2009 by motocross racer Rick Johnson and it was managed the race operations and officiated the events.[36] USAC took over complete management of the series in 2010.[36] The complete management ended in August 2013 season when it was sold to The Armory. USAC returned to offication / race control and the series was renamed "TORC: The Off Road Championship" for 2014.

Former series

USAC Championship Car Series
Main article: List of USAC Championship Car seasons
1977 A. J. Foyt Champ Car
USAC Championship Car Season Champions
1956 Jimmy Bryanseason
1957 Jimmy Bryanseason
1958 Tony Bettenhausenseason
1959 Rodger Wardseason
1960 A. J. Foytseason
1961 A. J. Foytseason
1962 Rodger Wardseason
1963 A. J. Foytseason
1964 A. J. Foytseason
1965 Mario Andrettiseason
1966 Mario Andrettiseason
1967 A. J. Foytseason
1968 Bobby Unserseason
1969 Mario Andrettiseason
1970 Al Unserseason
1971 Joe Leonardseason
1972 Joe Leonardseason
1973 Roger McCluskeyseason
1974 Bobby Unserseason
1975 A. J. Foytseason
1976 Gordon Johncockseason
1977 Tom Snevaseason
1978 Tom Snevaseason
1979 A. J. Foytseason
1980 Johnny Rutherfordseason

USAC Gold Crown Series

Starting in 1981, USAC scaled back their participation in Indy car racing outside of the Indianapolis 500. The preeminent national championship season was instead being sanctioned by CART. USAC developed a split-calendar season, beginning in June, and ending in May with the Indy 500. After 1983, however, the Gold Crown schedule would consist of only one event per season (Indy 500), and the Gold Crown title would be regarded largely as ceremonial. The winner of the Indianapolis 500 would be the de facto Gold Crown champion, as it was the lone points-paying event. The title and the "series" were retired after the 1994–1995 season.

USAC Gold Crown Series Champions
1981–82 George Sniderseason[37]
1982–83 Tom Snevaseason[38]
1983–84 Rick Mearsseason[39]
1984–85 Danny Sullivanseason[40]
1985–86 Bobby Rahalseason[41]
1986–87 Al Unserseason[42]
1987–88 Rick Mearsseason[43]
1988–89 Emerson Fittipaldiseason[44]
1989–90 Arie Luyendykseason[45]
1990–91 Rick Mearsseason[46]
1991–92 Al Unser, Jr.season[47]
1992–93 Emerson Fittipaldiseason[48]
1993–94 Al Unser, Jr.season[49]
1994–95 Jacques Villeneuveseason[50]

USAC Stock Cars
Main article: USAC Stock Car
Norm Nelson's USAC Stock Car

USAC featured a stock car division from 1956 to 1984.

Past Champions
Year Champion 2nd Place 3rd Place Rookie Of The Year
1956* Johnny Mantz Marshall Teague Les Snow None
1957 Jerry Unser Ralph Moody Sam Hanks None
1958 Fred Lorenzen Mike Klapak Norm Nelson None
1959 Fred Lorenzen Mike Klapak Nelson Stacy None
1960 Norm Nelson Paul Goldsmith Tony Bettenhausen None
1961 Paul Goldsmith Norm Nelson Elmer Musgrave None
1962 Paul Goldsmith Don White Norm Nelson None
1963 Don White A. J. Foyt Norm Nelson Sal Tovella
1964 Parnelli Jones Norm Nelson Don White Joe Leonard
1965 Norm Nelson Paul Goldsmith Don White Billy Foster
1966 Norm Nelson Don White Billy Foster Butch Hartman
1967 Don White Parnelli Jones Jack Bowsher Al Unser
1968 A. J. Foyt Roger McCluskey Don White Dick Trickle
1969 Roger McCluskey A. J. Foyt Don White Verlin Eaker
1970 Roger McCluskey Norm Nelson A. J. Foyt Billy Reis
1971 Butch Hartman Jack Bowsher Roger McCluskey J. Booher/B. Schroyer
1972 Butch Hartman Roger McCluskey Paul Feldner Chuck McWilliams
1973 Butch Hartman Ramo Stott Bay Darnell Irv Janey
1974 Butch Hartman Norm Nelson Ramo Stott Ken Rowley
1975 Ramo Stott Butch Hartman Sal Tovella Len Gittemeier
1976 Butch Hartman Ramo Stott Sal Tovella Wayne Watercutter
1977 Paul Feldner Ramo Stott Sal Tovella Dave Watson
1978 A. J. Foyt Terry Ryan Bay Darnell Joe Ruttman
1979 A. J. Foyt Bay Darnell Rusty Wallace Rusty Wallace
1980 Joe Ruttman Rusty Wallace Bay Darnell Ken Schrader
1981 Dean Roper Sal Tovella Ken Schrader Rick Hanley
1982 Dean Roper Bay Darnell Rick O'Brien J. Schwister/J. Lindhorst
1983 Dean Roper Butch Garner Rick O'Brien Roger Drake
1984 David Goldsberry Ken Rowley Jim Hall David Goldsberry

* The inaugural season featured two subtitles: Pacific Coast (won by Sam Hanks) and Short Track (Troy Ruttman).

USAC Road Racing Championship
Main article: USAC Road Racing Championship

From 1958 until 1962, USAC sanctioned a road racing championship.[51] It was held for sports cars from 1958–1961, and adopted Formula Libre rules in 1962.

YearChampionCarReport
1958 Dan GurneyFerrari 375 Plus
Ferrari 290 MM		season
1959 Augie PabstFerrari 625 TR
Scarab Mk. II-Chevrolet		season
1960 Carroll ShelbyMaserati Tipo 61
Scarab Mk. II-Chevrolet		season
1961 Ken MilesPorsche 718 RS 61season
1962 Roger PenskeCooper T53-Climaxseason

References
  1. USAC Information Archived 2007-08-11 at the Wayback Machine insmkt.com. Retrieved on August 19, 2007.
  2. "AAA cuts ties with U.S. auto racing". The Michigan Daily. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Associated Press. August 4, 1955.
  3. "Substitute seen for auto racing sponsor vacancy". St. Petersburg Times. International News Service. August 5, 1955.
  4. "USAC takes over AAA's place". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. March 8, 1956.
  5. Waltz, Keith (February 23, 2010). "A True USAC National Championship". National Speed Sport News. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  6. Morrison, Patrick T.; Newland Jr., James G. (April 25, 1978). "Weather Caused Plane Crash? (Part 1)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Morrison, Patrick T.; Newland Jr., James G. (April 25, 1978). "Weather Caused Plane Crash? (Part 2)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 9. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Morrison, Patrick T.; Newland Jr., James G. (April 25, 1978). "Crash Victms Were Racing Fans, Award Winners And Innovators". The Indianapolis Star. p. 9. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. The battles wage on and off the tracks automedia.com.
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  11. The CART-USAC War: part 1 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine oreopolis.com. Originally published in NUVO Newsweekly – January 25, 1996.
  12. The CART-USAC War: part 2 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine oreopolis.com. Originally published in NUVO Newsweekly – January 25, 1996.
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  21. http://usacracing.com/news/midget/item/6887-bayston-follows-kenyon-as-lebanon-s-newest-usac-midget-champ
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  30. http://www.usacracing.com/assets/files/History_Docs/history_driver_champions_southwest_sprint.pdf
  31. http://www.westcoastsprintcars.com/champions.html
  32. http://usacracing.com/news/hpd/item/5977-usac-unveils-lightning-sprint-national-championship-for-2017
  33. http://sportscar365.com/world-challenge/usac-to-sanction-pirelli-world-challenge/
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  41. "1985–86 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  42. "1986–87 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
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  44. "1988–89 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  45. "1989–90 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  46. "1990–91 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
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  49. "1993–94 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  50. "1994–95 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
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